Commentary: Maalik Wayns learning how to become a pro

PHILADELPHIA — It took 15 minutes for Maalik Wayns to trade in his jersey for a jacket and skullcap. He was leaving the Sixers’ locker room and heading toward the court to greet the family members who come to his games.

Interview requests? Wayns hadn’t even considered them. So Wayns, summoned for a line of questioning the other night, hung his head, shuffled his feet and slogged back to his locker.

Hey, these are the demands of the NBA, rookie. With more playing time comes more responsibility, like potentially addressing the media nightly.

By Sixers coach Doug Collins, Wayns has been given an opportunity in recent nights. Tuesday, it was the chance to share the backcourt with Jrue Holiday. Overall, it’s been a bump in playing time, from 4.6 minutes through his first six appearances to 10 minutes in the last two, heading into tonight’s date in Charlotte.

And Wayns, impressive in his latest showings, has demonstrated what he can do.

“We need him,” Collins said, not holding anything back. “He gives us speed. We had it in the preseason. If you looked at our team over the last six or so games, our offensive production is getting better. We’re moving the ball better. … I think Maalik makes us a better offensive team.”

The Sixers do need Wayns, and for interesting reasons.

At season’s outset, following a productive exhibition slate, Wayns’ roles revolved around expediting the tempo of slow-paced games, playing the point for the second-team offense and taking a handful of fouls at the ends of quarters. Following Tuesday’s victory, in which he led the Sixers’ bench in scoring, it’s increasingly clear they need Wayns for more than those aforementioned duties.

Wayns, when paired with Holiday, is a slasher. He’s the guy who can get to the free throw line for a team that ranks among the NBA’s worst in free-throw attempts.

“We have to try to create fouls. If we can get to the line and create fouls going to the basket, it’ll help our team,” Wayns said. “We can get a couple more points a game, and that’s what I try to bring.”

Wayns is the guy who, when paired with Holiday, allows Evan Turner to handle the ball with Holiday off the floor. It’s no secret Turner’s at his best with the ball in his hands. But Holiday, to whom the Sixers recently committed $41 million over the next four seasons, is that guy. Playing Wayns with Holiday gives Turner more chances to play the point, and improve the Sixers’ offense in the process.

“We play well together,” Wayns said of he and Holiday. “We were just talking about it. We can do different things together because he’s got good size and he can guard (a team’s) two guards. I can pressure the point guards and we can play together and push the ball on offense.”

Beyond that, Wayns has courage. And the wherewithal to learn, the desire to improve daily.

Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie said Wayns understands you don’t go from an undrafted kid out of Villanova to a top-tier NBA point guard. McKie, who has been with Wayns from the start of his pro journey, is always at his side. Wayns has been known to join McKie to watch game film, whether at the arena or on the team flight. He’s been seen catching McKie’s feeds in order to hoist extra shots after practice.

“For a point guard in this league, you have to be a student of the game,” McKie said. “You get these guys at a young age and you teach them that. … He has to be an extension of the coach. To do that, you have to do homework. He has to go home and think about it, then come back in and say, ‘These are the things I need to work on.’ That’s how his brain has to be working.”

“When we get them young, we put our arms around them and try to make them better pros.”

Wayns, who’s at the beginning of that process, knows he’s got work to do to continue helping the Sixers. Like sticking around for those post-game interviews.